Nowhere to clean bike

[EltonFrog]

Not interested in your comments,go and bother someone else.

See, being rude again. Tut tut.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Just get outside and give it a wash. I bit of rain never hurt anyone

If you can ride your bike in the rain surely you can clean it in the rain too

But it's freezing, no?
Also, we don;t know if @jarlrmai is top floor, where is the clean water? Carrying buckets up and down is a faff.
While I like @User13710's idea (sometimes I do a "dry clean" indoors, on a plastic sheet, mostly I do it in the garden) there is another solution:
go to your local fix your own bike sessions, sometimes they are free, sometimes they are a nominal charge, and clean your bike there.
I know a few that do that at the Glasgow Bike Station, handy for a tune up too if needed, all tools are supplied, expert mechanics lend a helping hand if needed.

 

[colourspinner]

But it's freezing, no?
Also, we don;t know if @jarlrmai is top floor, where is the clean water? Carrying buckets up and down is a faff.
While I like @User13710's idea (sometimes I do a "dry clean" indoors, on a plastic sheet, mostly I do it in the garden) there is another solution:
go to your local fix your own bike sessions, sometimes they are free, sometimes they are a nominal charge, and clean your bike there.
I know a few that do that at the Glasgow Bike Station, handy for a tune up too if needed, all tools are supplied, expert mechanics lend a helping hand if needed.

Sorry bit of a daft question, but do you have to bring your own bucket to the fix your own bike sessions if you want to clean your bike there? I considered this option but this water issue makes me hesitant.

 

[HLaB]

My bike lives in a narrow corridor too I use baby wipes to clean it.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Sorry bit of a daft question, but do you have to bring your own bucket to the fix your own bike sessions if you want to clean your bike there? I considered this option but this water issue makes me hesitant.

No bucket required.
Those places are basically a workshop, there will be a bucket, sometimes a hose outside.
I would ask in advance, not about the bucket, but about the hose: you could also bring your own GT85, a few rags, maybe a brush, then do your cleaning.
You will have access to a large space that you can splash with dirt and oil - last time I went (for learning about a mechanical) they gave us bike stands, one each, a large sheet to protect the floor, all the grease and tools we needed.
There was a big, old style sink, like they used to do the laundry in, several buckets.

 

[Custom24]

Go to a charity shop and buy a bed sheet. Put the sheet on the floor and put the dry bike on top...

Won't the volunteers in the charity shop object?

 

[colourspinner]

No bucket required.
Those places are basically a workshop, there will be a bucket, sometimes a hose outside.
I would ask in advance, not about the bucket, but about the hose: you could also bring your own GT85, a few rags, maybe a brush, then do your cleaning.
You will have access to a large space that you can splash with dirt and oil - last time I went (for learning about a mechanical) they gave us bike stands, one each, a large sheet to protect the floor, all the grease and tools we needed.
There was a big, old style sink, like they used to do the laundry in, several buckets.

All makes sense now, thank you!

 

[MichaelW2]

Once you have cleaned the bike, wax the frame and dirt will shed more easily.
Run 2 chains, one being cleaned and one getting dirty on the bike. You can switch to a clean chain at any time without having to get dirty.
Can you use a Romainian car wash?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Can you use a Romainian car wash?

That's a bit far away, won't a Scottish car wash do?

 

[si_c]

If it's a really bad week I'll take it to the jetwash at the garage around the corner. Keep spray away from important bits and then dry it off with a microfiber towel when home.

Alternatively as suggested above, a dustsheets and the same towel when the dirt has dried and just rub it off then mickle and baby wipes.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Jetwash at local garage?
<snip>

ADMIN! BAN THIS PERSON!

(In seriousness, I have the same problem. I will get around to plumbing in and outside tap but in the meantime..)

 

[Vantage]

Seems like it's always raining outside when I get back from work and I have no place indoors (bathroom is verboten), bike is in severe need of a clean and fettle as the last few rides have been muddy as.

Anyone else have this problem and have any creative solutions?

I lived on the 4th floor of a high rise before getting my house and it was either wash it in the bathtub with the shower or drag it out onto the balcony and wash it there.
Depending on who is denying the bathroom option, it is worth considering that the bike gets you to work and therefore technically pays the bills. A bit of muck will happily go down the plughole without flooding the place as will a bit of chain oil.
If you're in a house you could keep a garden pump spray bottle filled with water at the front door. Give it a couple pumps when you get home and blast the worst of the muck off before bringing the bike in for a towel wipe.

 

[velovoice]

Clean the bike in the bathroom and then clean the bath out!

Indeed, delete the word "room" and you've got my method.

 

[Tom B]

ADMIN! BAN THIS PERSON!

I jetwash the bikes at work with the work jetwash. i just dont direct the full force of the jet at the oily bits or the bearings. I do these with a firm handbrush froma dustpan and brush sett and a bucket of the foamy water that comes out of the jet wash.
Okay they are utility hulks that dont really see much maintainence anyway. But they seem to suffer no ill effects.


(In seriousness, I have the same problem. I will get around to plumbing in and outside tap but in the meantime..)

When you get around to it plumb in a hot tap too, then with a Y peice of hose you can wash with warm water for better results on cars, bikes, persons and dogs.

 

[velovoice]

Doesn't the bath get scratched to b*ggery though?

Sorry, confused.... nothing on the bike touches the bath, except tyre rubber.